To prove the differentiation of a constant equals zero.

dy
For example if y=5, then =0.
dx
Let y=f(x)=c f(x+h)=c

f(x+h)-f(x)=c-c=0

f(x+h)-f(x) 0 d(c)
lim = =0 =0
h 0 h h dx
General Rule
dy
If y=x n . Then =nx n-1.
dx
dy
For example if y=x 3 . Then =3x 2
dx

Proof of this rule is left to the Miscellaneous Presentation, as it demands the Product Rule, which we
have not covered yet.

Differentiate x with respect to x by rule.

1
y= x =x 2

dy 1 - 12 1
= x =
dx 2 2 x

df(x) dg(x)
Proof that if f(x)=kg(x), where k is a constant. Then =k .
dx dx

dy dx 2
For example y=5x 2 , =5 =5(2x1 )=10x
dx dx
f(x)=kg(x) f(x+h)-f(x) (g(x+h)-g(x))
=k
f(x+h)=kg(x+h) h h
f(x+h)-f(x) (g(x+h)-g(x))
lim =k lim
h 0 h h  0 h
df(x) dg(x)
=k
dx dx
Differentiate y=5x 4 with respect to x.

d(5x 4 ) d(x 4 )
=5 =5(4x 3 )=20x 3
dx dx

5
Differentiate with respect to x.
x3

5
y= 3 =5x -3
x
dy 15
=-15x -4 =- 4
dx x

The Sum Rule

If f(x)=u(x)+v(x) f(x+h)=u(x+h)+v(x+h)

f(x+h)-f(x)=u(x+h)+v(x+h)-u(x)-v(x)

f(x+h)-f(x)  u(x+h)-u(x)   v(x+h)-v(x) 

=  +  
h  h h

f(x+h)-f(x)  u(x+h)-u(x)   v(x+h)-v(x) 

lim = lim  + lim
 h 0  
h 0 h h 0
 h h

df(x) d(u(x)+v(x)) du(x) dv(x)

= = +
dx dx dx dx

Differentiate y=x 3 +6x 2 +5x+3 with respect to x.

dy
=3x 2 +12x+5
dx
 dy
If y  x 4  3x 2  4, find when x  2.
dx
dy
=4x 3 +6x
dx

dy
At x=2, =4(2)3 +6(2)=32+12=44
dx